London (CNN) – Mitt Romney told British leaders he hopes to take in an Olympics swimming competition during his time in London. With no pool in sight, the Republican presidential candidate has already made waves of his own.

Early Thursday morning in the U.K., while much of the U.S. political world was fast asleep, the British press had seized on comments the GOP contender made about London's preparations for the Olympics.

"You know it's hard to know just how well it will turn out," Romney said in an interview with NBC News Wednesday evening. "There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

"Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment?" Romney asked. "That's something which we only find out once the Games actually begin."

The headline on the main page for London's Daily Telegraph news site was not what the Romney campaign had in mind for this visit: "Mitt Romney questions whether Britain is ready for Olympic Games."

During a visit to London's chief Olympic stadium, British Prime Minister David Cameron was asked for a response to Romney's comments. Cameron put diplomacy aside and took direct issue with Romney's remarks.

"I think we will show the whole world not just that we come together as a United Kingdom but also we're extremely good at welcoming people from across the world," Cameron said to reporters just hours before his own scheduled visit with the GOP contender.

"I will obviously make those points to Mitt Romney. I look forward to meeting him," Cameron added, mentioning the Republican candidate by name.

In what sounded like a jab at Romney's stewardship of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Cameron appeared to draw a contrast between staging the Games in London versus Utah.

"We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere," Cameron said.

After his meeting with Cameron, Romney praised British preparations for the Games. Romney then sidestepped a question about whether he intended any criticism of London in his initial comments.

"I'm very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games. What I see shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization and expect the Games to be highly successful," Romney said.

That may have been enough to satisfy the British press. The headline on the Telegraph's site after his meeting with Cameron: "Mitt Romney seeks to play down London 2012 comments"

soundoff(428 Responses)

Romney will be in the face of the whole world, if elected!! We will long for W....Find another country for a four year visit...you'll need it..

July 26, 2012 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

mike

what a complete fool!!!!!!

July 26, 2012 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

mcskadittle

yes he will make a great president, before the trip he gives a speech where he tells vets that he will control the world by force of a huge military and then when he gets to the first country (our biggest ally) and all he does is denigrate them and how they are running the olymipics. great foreign policy. He will have to work with these people if he is president

July 26, 2012 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

SFRich

It's not surprising that Romney comes out with remarks critical of the Olympics preparations in London. After all, other than the few generalizations about he would do as president, critical remarks are about all he seems to say. He's built an entire campaign on what he sees as wrong, but offering nothing SPECIFIC about what he would do differently.

Of course, he can't say anything specific because it would likely clash with what's done or supported in the past.

He's an empty suit. He reminds me of someone I had some business dealings with years ago. This man would repeatedly use the phase "trust me" when he said things. It didn't take me long to realize that he couldn't be trusted.

This guy is so incompetent, I won't be surprise if he missed seeing his horse perform by mistakenly going to the local zoo instead of the equestrian venue!

July 26, 2012 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

Expat American

Well since Romney will never be a Republican President; he won’t to worry about airborne shoes messing up that million dollar coiffure.

July 26, 2012 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

Lynda/Minnesota

"If Mitt Romney is elected President, fortunately he will have a Secretary of State that will do most of the interactions with other countries at that point."

Yep. And word has it that Michele Bachmann is heading the list of SOS wannabee's. Mitt's got a lot of pay-back due the TeaPers. Wonder how far Bachmann takes him for a "all or none" piggy-back ride before sending him back from whence he came? (Sorry, can't remember what American state the Romney's actually call home these days.)

BTW... Wall Street Mitt is actually in London to attend a secret meeting for foreign bankers, including Barclays, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank, to solicit dark foreign money for his dark money SuperPACs. Introducing foreign money into American politics is one of the things the GOP loves about blocking any disclosure laws and protecting SuperPACs stuffed with secret dark money. Thanks to all the dark money, there's no way to know how much communist Chinese money is being used to fund pro-Romney SuperPACs.

July 26, 2012 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

Steve

As far as I can tell people, Romney already has more experience than Obama had when he ran in 2008. How can anyone say that Romney is not qualified if Obama was qualified. You have a Governor and business manager against a Community organizer/ disbarred lawyer. You choose.

July 26, 2012 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

Simon

"We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere," Cameron said."

LMAO! Good comeback, Mr. Prime Minister!

July 26, 2012 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

Rudy NYC

Myviewis

Honestly, I don't think most of you watch CNN because if you did you would realize that Governor Romney and Piers Morgan had a very good time in the interview and it seems people in England are pleased with him. Based on your comments I think you guys are only reading articles but not watching CNN.
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You're amazing. Which CNN have you been watching? That Piers Morgan interview is supposed to air tonight.

July 26, 2012 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

maine liberal

mitt flips no surprise

"There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

"I'm very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games. What I see shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization"

After apologizing to the UK, Rush, Glenn, and Hannity, Mittens will deny being an apologist. If he were visiting a hostile country, we would be in another war. Thanks Mittens.

July 26, 2012 02:27 pm at 2:27 pm |

johnmenacherjr

man things with this guy are one flip after a flop. If republicans romney and all are so excited with the olympics why did they doom and gloom chicagos chances of having them?? I think they referred to that as a bailout as well. I would say the loyalties are to Norquist not our homeland.

July 26, 2012 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

For a multi millionaire, Mittens is an idiot. Born in the end zone, and he thought he scored a touchdown.

July 26, 2012 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |

John

Right or Wrong, it is just not a proper statement from a potential President. How can we let him represent all of America when he is not smart enough to say the right thing outside of the U.S.

July 26, 2012 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |

CorporationsRPeople2

Lynda/Minnesota

"If Mitt Romney is elected President, fortunately he will have a Secretary of State that will do most of the interactions with other countries at that point."

Yep. And word has it that Michele Bachmann is heading the list of SOS wannabee's. Mitt's got a lot of pay-back due the TeaPers. Wonder how far Bachmann takes him for a "all or none" piggy-back ride before sending him back from whence he came? (Sorry, can't remember what American state the Romney's actually call home these days.)

Actually, it will probably be Bob Bolton and Mitt will change the name of the position from Secretary of State to Minister of Peace. Rush will be Minister of Love. Glen Beck will be Minister of Truth. The Minister of Plenty might be Paul Ryan.

July 26, 2012 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |

Lenny Pincus

The Olympics is small potatoes for Mitt. His silly little tax deduction of a horse is there, but Mitt's real business is to suck in cash from foreign firms for his campaign. He says dumb things and barely knows to whom he speaks, but his spiel for financial backing will be music to the vultures' ears.

July 26, 2012 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

Not Presidential Material

Thank you, Mitt Romney, for going "international" and proving to the world, along with the rest of us Americans, just how much you are NOT PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for Romney's meeting with PM Cameron. I'll bet the first thing he did was apologize! I can just hear him now:

Romney: "I don't know what's happened to me since I've been here. I've become very fond of your biscuits and cheese scones. Sorry for all that rubbish in the press about your little games you're putting on. You know how people can take things out of context."

To which Cameron replies: "Yes, old boy, I've seen your campaign against the President. Tally-ho!"

July 26, 2012 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

Larry L

Y
"You can dress them up but you can't send them to town..."

Remember when "W" tried to give the German Chancellor a neck rub? She gave him that "get your hands off me you ignorant hick" look. Republicans can sure pick some winners...

July 26, 2012 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

ABCD

Now I understand why his fellow republicans were hesitating to endorse him. They know his weakness better than the rest of us do.

July 26, 2012 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

phyllis

I hope Mitt puts his foot in his big mouth, every time he opens it.........While in Europe, and Israel........